Benzinga | Jun 21, 2021 10:31AM EDT

Anavex Life's Rett Syndrome Candidate Shows Promising Biomarker Correlating Efficacy Data

* Anavex Life Sciences Corp (NASDAQ:AVXL) has reported a predictive biomarker response from its Phase 2 trial of ANAVEX2-73 (blarcamesine) in adult female patients with Rett syndrome.

* Data showed that ANAVEX2-73 treatment resulted in a significant increase in the expression of the SIGMAR1 mRNA biomarker that significantly correlated with improvements in the two primary clinical efficacy endpoints - Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire (RSBQ) and CGI-I (assessment scale for determining the effects of mental health treatment)

* Last week, the company announced that ANAVEX2-73 activates the sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1), and helping in restoring neural cell homeostasis and promoting neuroplasticity.

* In addition, prespecified patients with WT SIGMAR1 in the clinical trial demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant 14.5-point improvement over placebo in the RSBQ total score.

* The treatment demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant 12.9-point improvement in anxiety and mood symptoms scale for ANAVEX2-73 vs. placebo.

* Price Action: AVXL shares are up 19.3% at $26.40 during the market trading session on the last check Monday.